Building a bail fund with volunteers​resource guide

Resource guide from volunteer involvement workshop at the National Bail Fund Network convening, September 17-19, 2018.

This guide is by no means exhaustive - if you'd like to have something added please email atara@massbailfund.org with your resource (either as a link or an attachment), a brief description, and if you would like it to be attributed to your bail fund.

​Volunteer Engagement

Volunteer TrainingThe curriculum is the product of a convening of over 20 black led base building organizations who came together to disucss the implications of bail and bail reform on black communities accross the country. The Massachusetts Bail Fund training is based on that curriculum and is included as an example for integrating the curriculum into your jurisdiction.

​Volunteer Involvement ​What to do with all of the community folks who want to volunteer with your bail fund? How do you create tasks that are realistic for volunteers to do and useful for the bail fund?

Confidentiality AgreementThe work done on behalf of the bail fund is sensitive. Volunteers are privy to information about individuals, families, and communities that is private. A discussion about confidentiality is a must for every bail fund, and you may want to go further and have all people doing work on behalf of the fund sign a confidentiality agreement. The choice to implement a confidentiality form is up to your bail fund to make. An example form is provided.

These are some applications and sites bail funds have found to be helpful when coordinating with lots of volunteers, especially when they are spread out over a wide area. Keep in mind there are potential security concerns with any cloud based tools, and your bail fund should discuss process and procedures before using them. Some potential challenges with using cloud based applications are access and familliarity with technology. It's always important to ensure the tools you use are accessible to the widest audience.

Slack -Cloud-based set of proprietary team collaboration tools and services, including real time instant messaging and file sharing. Free.

Google Docs - Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides are a word processor, a spreadsheet and a presentation program respectively, all part of a free, web-based software office suite offered by Google within its Google Drive service. Free

Money Transfer

Venmo - Venmo is a mobile payment service owned by PayPal. It allows users to transfer money to others using the service using a mobile phone app; both the sender and receiver have to live in the U.S. $3000 limit every 7 days, money is transferred within 1 business day. Only mobile app based, cannot use on the web.

Cash App - Cash App is a mobile payment service developed by Square, Inc., allowing users to transfer money to one another using a mobile phone app. $2500 limit every 7 days, can be accessed on the web and on mobile app. Money is transferred within 1 business day.